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Shiridi is a small village in Kopargam taluk, in Ahmadnagar
district of the Maharastra State. Shirdi is a very
sacred, powerful and important place of pilgrimage in India. Shirdi is
about 285-km and 6 hours drive from Mumbai (Bombay).
Shirdi was a sleepy little village, tucked away in the interiors of
Maharashtra. An old sage called Sai Baba lived in the village who was
their mentor and prophet. Even today the last few surviving elders of the
village vividly recall the miraculous wonders of the sage. He died in 1918
leaving behind grieving villagers.
After his death Sai Baba's fame has spread far and wide. His devotees are
scattered all over the world. They regularly visit Shirdi to pay their
homage to this great Saint. Sai Baba's shrine has been incorporated as one
of the holy places in the world's map of pilgrimage. Sai Baba preached no
particular religion. In fact, he believed in and respected all religions.
Samadhi Temple was started during the lifetime of Sai Baba,
with a view to having a temple of Sri Krishna but later when the
construction was almost complete, Sai Baba said that he would stay over
there.
So after Sai Baba attained Nirvana (eternal peace) His mortal remains
were buried at the place. The white marble pavement of the Samadhi, which
is seen now, was made afterwards. In 1954 the marble statue prepared by
sculptor Sri Talini of Mumbai was installed by the side of the Samadhi.
There is a spacious hall in front of the Samadhi, which is paved with
marble tiles.
The hall is decorated with photos, of the saints and devotees of Sai
Baba. After entering the hall one can see the statue of Sai Baba, in a
sitting position. Devotees can have a look at the articles used by Sai
Baba exhibited in a room, on the left side of the hall. There is a cellar
below the room on the right side where valuables are kept. There is
gallery and several rooms on the first floor.
Baba lived Dwarkamayee Masjid for almost for 60 years. Sai
Baba named this old Masjid as Dwarka Mai. During the day he used to sit on
a big stone, which is still preserved. Once Baba said to His devotee, "
This is Dwarawathi, who ever steps here will get health, and happiness and
he will be freed from all difficulties". There used to be no doors to
Dwarakamayi and Baba never spoke to any one in secret.
A portrait of Sai Baba, painted during His lifetime, is also kept here.
One can see the sacred dhuni (fire) kindled by Sai Baba kept burning since
then in front of the portrait. A grinding stone, a bathing stone, a wooden
pillar, chulha (stove), padukas (slippers) and Tuls (Holy Basil)
Vrindavan, which were used by Sai Baba are all maintained here. Rath
(carriage) and the pallanquin are also kept here in a small room.
Towards the east of Dwarkamai there is a place called Chavadi where Sai Baba used to visit every alternate night. A number of portraits of deities are exhibited here since the days of Sai Baba. A wooden plank and a wheel chair brought for Baba but never used by Him are exhibited here.
It is a place where Sai Baba used to sit under a neem (margosa) tree, leaves of which lost their bitterness due to the grace of Sai Baba. One can find a pot in front of the temple where incense is burnt day and night, wherein Lord Shivaa's pindi and Nandi are installed and padukas of Lord Sai Baba are also kept.
Sai Baba dug a well here from which he used to take out
drinking water. Now the Lendi nalla is filled with waterand a garden is
laid there. A Nandadeep lamp is kept burning there since the day of Sai
Baba, who used to sit here on a par (stone) near the Nandadeep, below the
neem tree. Dattatreya (the primordial guru) Temple has been built in the
garden in front of the Ashwattha tree.
The Samadhi of the horse Shamsunder, who used to bow down to Sai Baba and
thereafter to the Samadhi daily, till its death is found here. Few
Samadhis of Baba's devotees like Abdul Baba, Nanavalli, Bhau Maharaj and
Tatya are found at the entrance of the Lendibag.
A small temple called Khandoba dedicated to Lord Shivaa is situated on the Ahmednagar-Kopargaon road. Khandoba is said to be the presiding deity of the village. When Baba came to Shiridi, second time with a marriage party, He got down from bullock cart here. It was at this temple that Sri Mahalsapati, the priest of the temple first greeted Sai Baba as "Ya, Sai" (welcome Sai). The nameless fakir began to be called "Sai Baba" from that time.
Devotees can visit the three temples of Mahadev, Shani and Ganesh built in a line. The Mahadev Temple is a very old temple, which houses a statue of a tiger installed behind the Nandi. There is a dhuni similar to that found in Dwarkamayee Masjid in the Shani Temple. The Ganesh Temple is also very old. There are the Keshav Temple and Mangal Karyalaya, built in recent years beyond the road on the eastern side.
At 5.15 am the Kakad Aarti or the early morning worship and
prayer is performed in the main sanctum where Baba's body has been
entombed. Later on the Samadhi and the idol are washed ceremonially and
everyday from 6.00 am to 7.00 am the devotional songs on Sai are played.
Then the Abhishek (bathing of the deity) begins at 7.30 a.m. The noon
Aarti (mid-day prayer) takes place exactly at noon.
There is a break after this Aarti until the programme of singing, Bhajan
and Kirtan (devotional songs) in the afternoon. There is Aarti again at
6.30 p.m. (sunset prayer). Then there is Kirtan or Bhajan till 10 p.m. and
the last Aarti called the Shej-Aarti (night prayer) takes place at 10 p.m.
thereafter Lord Sri Sai Baba is deemed to have gone to sleep as the
devotees lovingly treat Him as a father.
On Thursdays, there is a procession of the Palki (Baba's carriage) and
the Padukas (Baba's slippers) at night and five gunshots are fired at the
time of the procession. Loudspeakers are arranged at the time of the aarti
and on festival days.
Rail: The important railway station is at
Kopergaon, through which few trains connecting major cities pass. A number
of trains from Mumbai
and Delhi also pass
through Manmad station, which is another nearest place from where devotees
can access Shiridi.
Road: One can access this holy place easily, as it is a
well-developed town connected by bus routes. Shirdi is only about 58-kms
from Manmad, buses and taxis are easily available to reach there.
The Shirdi Sai Sansthan provides boarding and lodging facilities but since large number of devotees throng Shiridi, especially on Thursdays one can find it difficult to get accommodation. But there are good hotels, which cater to the needs of all classes of devotees. Locals also let rooms on rent over here.
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